Pumping apparatus



March 24, 1953 w. H. TINKER PUMPING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SI-IEET 1 Filed May 7, 1949 INVENTOR WALTER H. TINKER BY w l 4(/- ATTORNEY March 24, 1953 w. H. TINKER I PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1949 "2 SHEETSSH E ET' 2 INVENTQR' WALTER H. TI'NKER ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1953 PUMPING APPARATUS Walter H. Tinker, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Fairbanks, Morse & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 7, 1949, Serial No. 92,049

7 Claims. (Cl. 103-5) The present invention relates to pumping apparatus in which a centrifugal pump and a jettype pump are used in alternative combination for deep well and shallow well applications.

It is an important object hereof to provide pumping apparatus of the character indicated, and in which the centrifugal pump embodies improved and novel structural features readily permitting its application to shallow or deep wells.

Another object of the invention is to be found in the construction and arrangement of a pump housing having a novel system of ports, passages and the like which can be applied to shallow well or deep well pumping systems by the simple addition, removal or rearrangement of a few inexpensive accessory parts.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a unitary pump housing member having an internal compartmentation which, in cooperation with a system of external piping connections, will render the same capable of use in a shallow Well pumping system with a jet pump disposed internally of the member, or of use in a deep well pumping system with a jet pump disposed in the well.

Other objects and advantages will be more particularly pointed out in the description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the same being disclosed in. the accompanying drawing, wherein:

1 is a partly sectionalized elevational view of a pumping system arranged for deep well application with the jet pump located remote from the centrifugal pump assembly;

Fig. 2 is a partly sectionalized plan view of the pump assembly, as taken at line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a further sectionalized plan view as taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and in which the pump connection with a pneumatic storage chamber is indicated;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of certain construction details as seen at line 4- 2 in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View in plan,

of the centrifugal pump housing member as conventional disposition within a well casing (not shown).

In Figs. 1 and 3, the pump housing or base member II] can be seen to comprise an integral casting having a skirt or peripheral wall [4 which is interrupted at one zone by the boss formation l5, and at an opposite zone by the additional boss formation 56. The interior of the base member is provided with wall means such as a central and semi-cylindrical wall H which at one side connects with a tangentially directed wall I8, and at another side with a radially directed wall H). An additional internal Wall 28 extends between the central wall I l and the outer wall It adjacent the boss [6. As seen in Fig. l, the base member it is provided with an upper wall 2|, the central zone 22 of which is suitably dished and otherwise formed to constitute a pressure pump impeller bowl having a central eye or inlet port 23 which is concentric with the semi-cylindrical base wall l'l.

Below the upper wall 2! and adjacent the boss It, there is formed an internal wall 25 defining a chamber or pressure space 25 which is separate from the larger chamber or space 26 constituted by the internal walls l9 and 2:}. A further internal wall 2? adjacent wall it and boss l5 defines a small chamber or pressure space 28 which is adjacent an enlarged suction space or chamber 29 constituted .by walls ll, 18 and i9. It will be noted that the boss 15 is formed with a threaded port 3i! opening to the suction chamber 29, and an adjacent threaded port 3! opening to the small pressure chamber 28. The opposite boss it of the base member H3 is formed with a threaded port 32 opening to chamber 26, and a port 33 opening to the pressure chamber 2 5.

The upper wall 2! of the base member H! is enclosed by the chambered casing member ll (Fig. 1), and in cooperation with the member N there is arranged a diffuser ring element 34 (Figs. 1 and 2), which closely surrounds the pump bowl 22 to complete a casing assembly for the pressure pump rotor or impeller 35. This rotor 35 is provided with an axially directed suction throat 35 and a pluralit of discharge passages 3'! (Fig. 2) which open adjacent the diffuser ring 34. The diffuser 3 5, in turn, is in communication with the discharge space or chamber 38 in casing H, and this chamber 38 is provided. with a pair of discharge ports 89 and 48 (Fig. 2). The port 39 opens through the wall 2i of the base member it above the pressure chamber 25, and port 40 opens through the wall 22 above the pressure chamber 28.

An important feature of the pump base memher l8 resides in the arrangement of the internal chambers and ports such that the alternative use of the pump for deep well or shallow well pumping operation may be readily accomplished. To this end, the chamber (Fig. 3) is provided with the outwardlycpening port 33 and an axially aligned and threaded internal port 42 in wall 24. Thus, chambers 25 and 2E communicate through the port 42. It will also be seen that the radial wall I 9 is formed with a threaded port 43 in axial alignment with the port 52, so that chambers 26 and 29 may be placed in communication. In addition, the boss formation 55, which constitutes a part of the outer wall i i of the base member it, has its enlarged port St located in axial alignment with the port 53 in wall 59. Access to the port 43 in internal wall 59 is had through the enlarged port 35, while port 52 in the wall 24 may be reached through the enlarged port 33 in the boss formation it which constitutes a part of the outer wall it of the base member ID.

The pumping system hook-up for the deep well installation is shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and this will now be described. The centrifugal pressure pump enclosed in members l9 and I! is located adjacent a pneumatic-type fluid storage tank 35 so that a tank inlet fitting 46 may be connected to the port 32 of the pump base chamber 25 by means of the adapter il, nipple 48, elbow B9, U

nipple 50 and flexible hose 5| From the port Si in boss I5, a pressure line 52 is directed into the well for connection with the body 53 of the jet pump [3 (Fig. i). This jet pump body 53 is suitably formed to receive a nozzle element 54 in position to receive pressure fluid from conduit 53 by way of the elbow passage 55. The nozzle 54 directs the flow of fluid across a chamber 55 and axially into the throat of a Venturi tube 51, such that the fluid in the well is caused to be drawn up through a foot valve 58 to chamber 5b where it is entrained with the jet fluid. The fluid then continues on through the conduit 59 and enters the impeller suction chamber 29 in the pump base ber 38 is under pressure and part thereof flows V to port 40, chamber 25 and conduit 52 for energizing the jet pump 3. The remainder of the fluid passes into chamber 25 by way of the port 39, and may eventually pass through chamberZS to port 32 for delivery to the pneumatic tank 45.

In the deep well application, conduit 53 may be referred to as a suction conduit for the pressure pump.

When the pump system is connected for deep well. operation, the port 43 in the wall l3 separating chambers 26 and 23 is closed by a removable plug element 62. This establishes base chamber 29 as the suction chamber for the pressure pump 35, and also establishes chamber 25 as the delivery space for directing fluid to the conduit leading to the tank 45.

To assure a continuous supply of energy fluid at the jet pump it, the division of fluid flow from discharge chamber 38, by way of ports 3% and ll], is automatically regulated by a control valve assembly $3 flange mounted at port 33 of chamber 25. The valve (Fig. 3) is carried by a flange plate 6 removably secured over port 33. A valve element cooperating with the port 52 in wall 24 her 6 3. The valve 65 is constantly urged to close port 42 by the coil spring 61, and the spring force or load on this valve 65 is varied by threadedly adjusting the guide member 66 inwardly or outwardly of the mounting plate 64. A suitable bellows-type sealing member 63 encloses the valve assembly in such manner that, upon a predetermined increase in pressure in chamber 25, the bellows will be collapsed to actuate the valve 65- in an opening direction. The required pressure is determined by the loading of the spring 61.

The starting and stopping of the pump motor i2 is accomplished by means of a pressure switch t9 (Fig. 1) mounted adjacent the motor 52. The electrical current for the motor is supplied by a suitable plug-in cord is. The control switch per se forms no part of the invention, and is not detailed for that reason. In the present arrangement'of a deep well pumping circuit, the pressure responsive side of switch 69 is connected so as to be subject to tank pressure. To accomplish this, the base member ill of the pump is provided with a small threaded port ii (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) opening to chamber 26 adjacent the port 32. An adapter fitting i2 is mounted in this port H, and a conduit l3 extends therefrom to a similar fitting it at the pressure switch 69. One end of conduit 73 is indicated in Fig. 1, and the opposite end may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

When operating as a deep well pumping system, the pressure switch 69 is set to start the motor i2 when the pressure in tank 45 attains a predetermined low value, as a result of draw-off of fluid therefrom. This low pressure is sensed by the switch being connected at port 72 in chamber 25. It is preferred that the switch 69 be mounted on motor 82 and have its conduit 13 connected in at the base member It, so that the motor. and pump assembly can be most conveniently and compactly assembled independently of the storage tank 55 and the piping connections. Assuming that the pressure switch til has closed due to a low pressure condition in tank 45, the motor [2 will be energized to initiate operation of the centrifugal pressure pump 35. The initial pressure developed in chamber 33 of the pump casing ll will ordinarily not be sufficient to collapse the bellows 83 of the discharge pressure regulating valve assembly 63. As a result, all of the fluid in chamber 38 will be directed to the jet pump l3 to establish its pumping function. After a time, the action of the jet pump 13 will cause sufflcient fluid flow to boost the pressure in chamber 38 and hence in chamber 25, sufficiently to open the valve 65 and permit fluid flow through port 2 to chamber 25 and the pneumatic storage tank G5. Upon replenishment of the fluid in. tank 55, the pressure switch 59 will be caused to open the motor circuit, thus stopping motor l2. It is preferred that the spring loading on the regulating valve 55 be selected so as not to permit opening of port 42 by back-pressure eifects from the tank 35, as will be communicated to the valve 55 by the connection between the tank 55 and chamber 26 in the base member 10.

Another important feature of the present invention can be seen by a comparison of the deep well pumping circuit of Fig. 3 and the shallow Well pumping circuit of Fig. 5. The ready convertibility of the assembly by substitution of a few parts is most noticeably evident therein. Since the essential construction of the base member id is identical for both pumping systems, it is convenient to indicate the same parts of the structure of Fig. 5 by similar reference numerals and to designate the additional parts and elements in a distinct manner. Therefore, the pertinent portions of the foregoing description will be assumed to apply to the shallow well pumping system without further discussion, and only such characteristics of structural combination and system operation will be described hereinafter as will serve to differentiate the shallow well pumping application from the deep well pumping application.

In Fig. 5, the shallow well conversion of the pumping system can be seen to include the disposition of a jet pump assembly l5 internally of the base member H). To accomplish this, the regulating valve assembly 63 (Fig. 3) is removed from the port 33 opening to chamber 25 and a nozzle element 15 is threadedly mounted in the port 42 of wall 24. Also, the fluid pressure and return conduits 52 and 59 for the deep well jet pump (Fig. 3) are now removed and closure p1ugs 11 and 7B are disposed in the respective ports 30 and 3|. Prior to mounting of the closure plug 1], the plug element 62 in wall l9 (Fig. 3) is removed from port 43 and a Venturi tube :9 for the jet pump 15 is threadedly disposed therein to cooperate with the nozzle element 16. The discharge end of the tube 19 opens to the impeller suction chamber 29, while the suction end thereof is open to chamber 26, thereby making chamber 26 the suction chamber for the jet pump assembly 75. The chamber 29, in this instance, remains as the suction chamber for the centrifugal pressure pump 35. Further to effect the conversion to shallow well operation, the fittings 41, 48, 49 and 50 (Fig. 3) are removed and a suction conduit 81 is connected at port 32 of the bas member so that the jet pump suction effect is directly communicated to the fluid at the well endinot shown) of this conduit 8!. The base member ID is connected with the pneumatic storage tank 45 by means of the conduit fittings comprising nipple 82, elbow 83 and a nipple 8l the latter being connected to the previously noted flexible hose of Fig. 3. Nipple 82 is connected to chamber 25 by the adapter plate 84 which is removably seated over port 33.

It can now be appreciated that the fluid delivered ,to the casing discharge chamber 38 (Fig. 1) is prevented from passing outwardly of the chamber 28 by plug 18, and is wholly confined to flow into chamber 25. The flow to chamber 25 divides, part being delivered to the storage tank 45 and part being utilized to energize the jet pump 15. I v

Since the chamber 25 now reflects the pressure conditions of storage tank 45, the previously noted motor control pressure switch 69 (Fig. 1) has its pressure connection effected at this zone. Accordingly, the conduit 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) is removed from the port H, and is connected at the ported boss 85 located above the chamber 25 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The plug element 86, shown in Fig. 4 for deep well operation, is re.- moved from boss 85 and inserted in the port U of Fig. 5.

For shallow well pumping operation, chamber 25 retains its function to direct fluid to the store age tank 45, and chamber 29 retains its function as the suction chamber for the centrifugal pressure pump 35, as well as the delivery chamber for the jet pump. However, chamber 26 new changes its function to that of a jet pump suction chamber and is directly connected with the source of fluid supply (not shown). In view of the detailed nature of the above description, it is believed un- 6 necessary further to explain the function of the apparatus as converted for shallow well operation.

It should now be fully clear to those skilled in the art that the present improvements permit of ready accessibility to the interior of the member for interchanging the few parts required to render the pump convertible to deep well or shallow well use.

While only a preferred embodiment of the present improvements has been described in detail, it should be understood that certain modifications, changes and substitutions of parts and elements may be made herein without departing from the full intended scope of the invention, as the same is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In pumping apparatus, a housing structure providing a suction space and pressure spaces in a lower portion thereof and an annular discharge space in an upper ortion having communication with the lower pressure spaces, a pump impeller disposed on a vertical axis in said housing having an axial suction throat open to said suction space to draw liquid upwardly therefrom and deliver it laterally into said discharge space, a pair of conduits connected with the lower portion of said housing, one opening to said suction space and the other opening to one of said pressure spaces, a jet pump adjacent a source of fluid supply and being connected with said conduits so that fluid pumped by the jet pump is supplied to said sucq tion space and is pumped by said impeller to said discharge space, a portion of the fluid returning from the housing to said jet pump for energizing the latter, a pneumatic tank, and a conduit con necting said tank with the lower portion of said housing and in communication with another of said pressure spaces therein.

2. In pumping apparatus of the character de: scribed, a housing structure comprisinga base member formed with a bottom wall and a skirt Wall and an upper wall having an impeller bowl therein, wall means in said base member forming a suction space open to said bowl, the wall means also forming a first pressure space adjacent the suction space, a second pressure space remote therefrom and a space intermediate. the suction space and the second pressure space, each of said spaces being provided with a port opening through the skirt wall, and the inter mediate and second spaces being in ported com: munication, a jet pump adjacent a source of fluid supply, a conduit connected between the skirt wall ort of said first pressure space and the jet pump, a conduit connected between the jet pump and the skirt wall port of said suction space, a pneumatic tank connected with the skirt wall port of said intermediate space, an impeller in said bowl, an upper member mounted over said base member for enclosing the impeller and forming a discharge chamber substantially concentric with said impeller bowl and communicating with said first and second pressure spaces to complete a fluid pumping circuit from the jet pump to the impeller with portions of the fluid discharged by the impeller flowing to the tank and to the jet pump, and means mounted in the skirt wall port of said second pressure space providing a valve controlling the port communicating said intermediate space and second pressure space, said valve being resiliently urged to close said communicating port and being responsive to the pressure of the fluid in said second pressure space for opening the port to permit fluid flow through the intermediate space to said tank.

3. In pumping apparatus of the pressure pump-jet pump character, housing structure for the pressure pump arranged with a multi-chambered base member and an upper casing member, the base member having a bowl in an upper wall enclosed by said casing member, a pressure l pump impeller in said bowl having its suction opening in a suction chamber of the base memher and its discharge in the casing member, a second chamber in the base member being defined by spaced walls having aligned ports communicating one with said suction chamber and one with an adjacent pressure chamber, the pressure chamber and a fourth chamber having communication with said casing member through the upper wall of said base member, said base member being provided with a first pair of external ports opening respectively from said suction chamber and the fourth chamber, and a second pair of external ports opening respectively from said second chamber and the pressure chamber, a jet pump adjacent a source of fluid supply, a pair of conduits extending between said jet pump and the first pair of external ports for delivery of fluid pumped by the jet pump to the suction chamber of the pressure pump and for returning pressure fluid pumped by the pressure pump to the jet pump to energize the latter, a pneumatic tank connected with that external port of said second pair of ports which opens to said second chamber, control valve means disposed in that external port of said second pair of ports which opens to the pressure chamber and being adaptedv to close the adjacent one of said aligned ports, said valve responding to a predetermined pressure of fluid in said pressure chamber for opening said adjacent one of said aligned ports to permit fluid flow. to said tank, and a closure element in the remaining one of said aligned ports for separating the suction and pressure sides of the pressure pump.

4. In pumping apparatus of 'the character described, a housing assembly therefor, including a base member of a unitary cast form having an outer skirt, a bottom wall, an upper wall with member to enclose-said impeller bowl and form a-discharge chamber therefor, said upper wall of the base member being provided with spaced ports on opposite sides of said impeller bowl opening from the discharge chamber to the respective pair of spaced pressure chambers in said base member.

5. A pump housing assembly for pumping apparatus of the character described, comprising a unitary base member providing bottom, side and top walls, and internal wall means defining in the base member relatively spaced apart first and second pressure chambers, a third chamber constituting a pump suction chamber extending to the central portion of the space inclosed by said walls, and a fourth chamber adjacent the suction chamber, said top wall of the base member being formed to provide an impeller bowl in communication with said suction chamber, said wall means having an opening in a portion thereof between said suction chamber and said fourth chamber and .an opening in a portion thereof between said fourth chamber and said first pressure chamber, the side wall of the base member being provided with a relatively adjacent pair of openings one associated with said suction chamber and. the other with said second pressure chamber, said side wall further having a second relatively adjacent pair of openings one associated with said fourth chamber and the other with said first pressure chamber, and a casing member removably mounted over the top wall of the base member and forming therewith a pump discharge chamber, said top wall of the base member being provided with ports on each side of said impeller bowl communicating said discharge chamber with said first and second pressure chambers,

6. In pumping apparatus, a pump base member defined by a skirt wall, an upper wall having an impellerbowl therein, and wall means integral with said skirt and upper walls and arranged to provide in the base a suction space, first and second pressure spaces and a space adjacent said first pressure space and in valveccntrolled flow communication therewith, a casing member on said base member enclosing the upper wall and impeller bowlv to provide a fluid discharge space above the upper wall, said upper wall having ports spaced on opposite sides of said impeller bowl and opening between the discharge space and. the said pressure spaces, and said skirt wall having openings therein one for each of said spaces, a jet pump located near a source of fluid supply, first and second conduits connected respectively with said jet pump and with the skirt wall openings associated with said suction space and said second pressure space, a pneumatic tank and a fluid conduit leading therefrom for connection with the skirt an impeller bowl and internal wall means diwall opening associated with said space adjaviding the same into a pair of spaced pressure chambers, and a pair of adjacent chambers one of which constitutes a suction chamber open to said impeller bowl and the other chamber being provided with aligned openings one to the suction chamber and the other to one of said pressure chambers, said base member further providing skirt ports arranged in a first adjacently related pair opening respectively to said suction chamber and the other of said pressure chambers, and a second adjacently related pair opening respectively to said one pressure chamber and to said other of the adjacently disposed chambers, and an upper casing member removably secured over the upper wall of said base cent said first pressure space, and a pump impeller operable in said bowl whereby fluid from the source of supply is pumped by said jet pump through said first conduit to said base member, is drawn into said impeller from the suction space of said base member for discharge to the discharge space in said casing member, and passes to the pressure spaces in said base member for flow from said first pressure space to said space adjacent thereto and therefrom to the pneumatic tank through said fluid conduit, and from said second pressure space to said jet pump through said second conduit.

7. A pump assembly comprising a housing, a transverse wall in said housing defining upper and lower compartments, wall means in said lower compartment dividing said lower compartment into a first pressure chamber, a second pressure chamber and a suction chamber extending to the central portion of said lower compartment, said transverse wall having a depression therein defining an impeller bowl, a pump impeller disposed in said bowl having a suction throat in communication with said central suction chamber and being arranged to discharge fluid into said upper compartment, ports in said transverse wall communicating said upper compartment with said first and said second pressure chambers, the external walls of said housing having a pair of adjacent ports opening into said suction chamber and said second pressure chamber and a third port adapted to receive a discharge conduit, conduits connected between said pair of adjacent ports and said jet pump for drawing fluid from a source and delivering it to said suction chamber, said wall means pro- 10 viding a passage between said first pressure chamber and third port, and a valve movable in response to fluid pressure in said first pressure chamber for controlling flow of fluid through said passage.

WALTER H. TINKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,203,077 Carpenter June 4, 1940 2,257,507 Mann Sept. 30, 1941 2,272,906 Da Col Feb. 10, 1942 2,319,509 Lung May 18, 1943 2,375,571 Mann May 8, 1945 2,440,912 Parker May 4, 1948 2,444,100 Hill June 29, 1948 2,474,539 Mann June 28, 1949 

